Arizona GOP congressmen get flattened by their own hometown newspaper for being 'Putin patsies'

Two Arizona congressmen are being called out by their own hometown newspaper after taking a controversial stance on The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs (R-AZ) followed President Donald Trump into the war against NATO. The move prompted the Arizona Republicto malign the men as Russian President Vladimir Putin's "patsies."

On Tuesday, both men became part of just 22 House lawmakers to oppose the NATO Support Act, which would stop Trump from using federal dollars to withdraw from the NATO alliance. Support for NATO passed overwhelmingly 357-22.

"Nothing would please Russian President Vladimir Putin more than to see NATO fall apart," the editorial explained.

Putin's disdain for NATO dates back to the Cold War when Russia owned much of Eastern Europe. After the USSR fell, many countries joined NATO. He views it as a personal attack on the country as well as an existential threat.

Read the full op-ed at the Arizona Republic.